Is There in Truth no Beauty?

A number of years ago, National Geographic came under scrutiny for digitally moving some pyramids, if memory serves me correctly. It was not a major adjustment, but was meant to make the image fit their front cover page. But for a publication noted for journalistic integrity, it wasn't something that could just be swept under the rug. Even though the scene evoked the same sense of place and realism, and no one would have known, the reality is, truth was altered.

Digital manipulation has now become quite commonplace, and sadly most of us are 'ok' with being lied to when it comes to things like photography. But, as a Christian especially, living in this age of digital ambiguity is particularly challenging.

Add into this the advent of artificial intelligence, and we are open to a mess of fictitious imagery, that outside of those with a keen eye (and those who have actually visited the locations), most are subject to being duped.

But is it even a big deal? So what if A.I. gets the Tetons a little bit wrong, it's still a pretty image of snow-capped peaks with a sunset isn't it? Maybe so.

But doesn't it mean we're still being lied to? And if so, do we care?

Before other photographers fuss at me, I'm not saying I think that it's morally wrong to digitally manipulate an image. I mean, I do my own amount of digital work on images as well. I believe in itself it's not a moral issue. It becomes one though when we intentionally lie. This is where it comes into the realm of Christian morality.

"Do not lie to to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices," - Colossians 3:9

How can we intentionally lie? Adding rainbows that weren't there and saying they were there, is one example. With programs It's actually really easy to change green leaves into yellow to make a spring image look like autumn. If one wants to do that, ok, but if you're asked and you say it was taken in fall, well, you decide.

I understand there are gray areas here, and I am not desiring to delve into all of those, but to simply offer that Christians, myself included, in the creative industry need to remember that we are called to tell the truth to one another. This is more than just our words. How that applies to your particular niche, I leave to you.

As time goes on, it's going to become increasingly difficult to avoid the use of A.I. in some form, and this is going to make that ethical gray area even murkier. But in light of that, I think it should drive Christians to stand even more for truth. Isn't that part of the church's task?

"... which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth." - 1 Timothy 3:15b, read 14-16 for greater context.

There are various fields and levels of digital manipulation, again I'm not attempting to cover all the bases, more offer some food for thought regardless of what creative industry you find yourself in. If as a Christian you are more into digital art than photography proper, it doesn't mean you're any less called to a life of truth, but I understand the application in that area is a little different. But for those proclaiming truth but presenting a falsehood, might we strive for being tellers of the truth. Because frankly, is there in truth no beauty?